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Pushing through the pain

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Every year thousands of Airmen train and come together to compete in the Air Force Marathon; each year there are dozens of articles and pictures of the winners. What is often lost is the reason people do it - to reach goals and motivate others to do the same.

Though not in the United States and unable to finish near this year's winning time of two hours and thirty minutes, running a marathon is often not about that, it is about pushing yourself to personal triumph.

More than 40 runners deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan set out Saturday morning, Sept. 20, with just that goal in mind - personal triumph.

This year marked the 12th time runners from different parts of the world in different locations have competed in the 26.2 mile event at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, as well as numerous deployed locations in the Air Force Marathon's name.

Although the rough gravel roads and chilly temperatures weren't exactly ideal conditions for participants, each took off around Manas' runway; each with their own version of the Air Force Marathon; each with their own motivation and story.

Major Damien Pickart, the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Officer, is just one of those individuals.

Starting out with little more than a goal in mind to finish, the Iowa native took off on a venture around the 13.1 mile perimeter road loop, just to turn around and do it all over again.

Surely not to be the only one, as late as Thursday, knowing in his heart that he was not ready for a full marathon, the prior-enlisted officer had to make a decision. Sure he had run other events like the 13 mile half-marathon here in late August, which he finished in a respectable third place, but this was twice the distance.

He even tried to convince the other members of his office to join in, splitting the distance by four, but unfortunately running marathons is not for everyone.

He had to find the motivation from inside. Donning # 1670 on his shirt, he took off from the starting line with 42 other runners with various distances facing each of them.

From the first stride, members of the shop and others watched in amazement and wonder why someone would put themselves through this type of challenge.

"What really are they trying to prove? To who?"

Employing different strategies throughout the race, from keeping pace with other runners to simply vowing not to stop running until the finish line, he persevered. It would take until mile 24 before his muscles succumbed to the pressure of tackling a full marathon.

At mile 24 his body hit the "wall" as it is known in the jargon of marathon runners. After more than three hours of nonstop running, his lack of training and not being fully prepared took its toll on his legs, leaving him with only his motivation to finish.

"I was sure he would finish it. He's the kind of guy you just expect to get the job done, no matter what it is," said Senior Airman Alex Farver, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs videographer. "It's just humbling, seeing someone pushing himself to the next level and seemingly never doubting himself."

Grimacing in obvious pain, he persevered to finish in three hours and thirty minutes, needing help at the finish line to keep from falling after he had reached his goal - to finish.

"You could see how he hurt with every step, but even still he did not want to give up until he was finished," said Senior Airman Ruth Holcomb, 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs photographer. "I think that he definitely knew that the pain was worth the reward."

Now looking back at the Air Force Marathon articles that typically highlight the outstanding finish times posted by some of the runners, we realize the race is not just about that. Some of the focus gets lost on these top times, but what is most important about not only the Air Force Marathon, but every marathon, is the message of triumphantly reaching goals.

Major Pickart did just that. While he may not have convinced the staff to take off on a 26.2 mile running journey that morning, his efforts did provide a motivational spark. Sparks that let others know that reaching for goals that seem out of reach is sometimes worth the effort.

"Life is tough and it is always going to throw obstacles at you that you may not be ready for," said Airman Holcomb. "I think that is just like running a marathon; you don't look at it as 26 miles, but instead as taking one step and then another and you will eventually reach your goal. The major's example proves it."